Let’s be perfectly honest, New Zealand is not a place renowned for it’s outpourings of killer bands but if one band from there knows how to kick some serious ass it is Shihad. Returning here with ninth studio album Fvey. Let us go on record right here and now and state that this is killer from start to finish.
The album explodes from the start with album opener ‘Think You are So Free’ a track that wouldn’t sound out of place on an album by a band like Killing Joke or Atari Teenage Riot. The title track quickly follows with a slow burning industrial feel that oozes menace. It is with ‘The Big Lie’ that the band unveil true groove. A bass heavy stomper where the band show their head to the listener with its political content and drive, Shihad are looking for a fight – and by what’s on offer here – they are going to win it.
Shihad are not a band you can pigeon hole in the slightest which can only be a good thing. We are not saying they don’t have any direction we are just saying there is a lot of different layers to this band all of which are done to a very high calibre of musicianship and intelligence. They have riffs, they have grooves, they have industrial beats and like we said earlier it is all delivered with an air of menace. You never really know what is round the corner. It’s a rare treat in the current climate of cookie cutter alternative music where you know EXACTLY what to expect. Bands like Shihad are a rarity and a breath of fresh air.
It’s also a pleasure to listen to a band with something to say and who aren’t afraid to say it. They attack governments and corporations. They know what is wrong in the world and they tackle it, thankfully for us they do it through some excellent music. Just check ‘The Great Divide’ to get an idea of what we mean.
What sets the band aside from a lot of other pissed off political bands is that Shihad know how to write a melody and at times you can hear a hint of pop sensibilities where a chorus hits that really drags you in. We aren’t saying this is like Blink 182 pop-punk, this couldn’t be any more far removed. It means that the band do have a message and have the sense to know that if you want the listener to get that message then write songs that will stick in your head. This is a fact stated well in the track ‘Wasted In The West’ . A track that will get your fist pumping and just check out that awesome riff that closes the song. Ooooof!
All in all Shihad have got a barn stormer of an album here. If you like your music to have a message check this out. Actually just check this out. It is simply solid heavy music throughout, all meticulously put together to at times quite stunning effects. If New Zealand have more bands this good we need to check that out now!
